McGrath hopeful for Adelaide Test

McGrath bowled off a few paces in the nets on Thursday

Australia seamer Glenn McGrath believes he will be fit to start the second Ashes Test against England, despite fears over a blistered heel problem.

Captain Ricky Ponting said a decision on the 36-year-old would be left until Friday after McGrath could only manage a shortened net session on Thursday.

However, McGrath later spent time with team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.

And he said: "What I feel now, I've felt in other Tests and got through easily so, if it's up to me, I'm in."

News conference: Australia captain Ricky Ponting

He added: "This is as good as I could have hoped and I'm really happy there. What we've done has worked. There's no problem."

His inclusion would be a major boost for Australia after he took 6-50 in the first innings of the first Test in Brisbane, which the hosts won by 277 runs.

I said yesterday that you would probably have to amputate his foot for him not to play Australia captain Ricky Ponting

However, injury restricted him to just 12 overs in the second innings of that match, and Ponting admitted he wanted to give McGrath as long as possible to recover.

"We won't know about Glenn until tomorrow, I imagine. We won't go into the Test match with him unless he's 100%," he said.

"With our team balance likely to be the way it is we can't afford to be carrying any of our bowlers whatsoever so Glenn will have to give me what I require of him through the course of the game. If he can't a few more questions will be asked."

But Ponting is still hopeful of the veteran making a sufficient recovery, saying: "I said yesterday that you would probably have to amputate his foot for him not to play.

"It is only a blister so they can't see why it's going to get any worse.

"It's something he's had for 15 years in his career and it's got a lot worse in the last week."

Young fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait have joined the Australian squad as cover for McGrath.

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